May 20, 2013 11:18 a.m. | The typical church partnership in large metro areas usually involves affluent suburban churches sharing their resources and talents with poorer central city congregations. Now, a new Milwaukee initiative is turning that on its head.

SeedFolks Youth Ministry and Alice's Garden, the successful growing community that fills an entire city block near N. 20th and W. Garfield Ave. in Milwaukee, will develop a second location at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4330 s. 84th St., in Greenfield, according to SeedFolks founder Venice Williams said.

The project, which reunites Williams and the Rev. Ingrid Huebner, who had worked together at Cross Lutheran Church, aims to create a space for neighborhood residents to grow food, build community and connect with the congregation, according to Williams. It will also house additional herb gardents for the Alice's Garden Healing Herbs product line.

Contrary to the typical church partnership dynamic, says Williams: "This partnership lifts up the gifts, resources and knowledge of an urban ministry that can be duplicated and lived into in a suburban context."

May 20, 2013 11:01 a.m. | A 38-unit apartment development is being proposed for West Allis.

Developer Chris Miller, of Hartland-based Miller Marriott Custom Homes LLC, wants to build a pair of two-story buildings, with 19 units each, on 2.2 acres on the west side of S. 92nd Street, immediately north of
the railroad overpass between W. Mitchell and W. Rogers streets, according to a city Plan Commission report.

Miller would demolish two homes and a garage on the site to make way for the new development, called 92nd Street Commons. The estimated project costs are $3.3 million.

92nd Street Commons would include 50 parking spaces, which is 10 fewer spaces than normally required by the zoning code.

"The developer’s target market is the empty nesters and singles who typically only have one car," the report said. The Plan Commission is to review the proposed development at its Wednesday meeting.

May 19, 2013 9:42 p.m. | A 15-year-old bicyclist struck Saturday afternoon by a vehicle in New Berlin has died, police said.

The Greenfield girl was crossing Sunny Slope Road from the New Berlin Recreation Trail when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle heading south around 4:30 p.m. She was taken to Froedtert Hospital, where she died Sunday.

The girl's name was not released.

Speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash, New Berlin police said.

May 18, 2013 4:08 p.m. | West Allis police said Saturday that a man remains in custody for questioning as they investigate the death of a 63-year-old woman found dead in the hallway of her apartment building Friday.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office continues working with detectives and will determine the cause and manner of death at the conclusion of their investigation, West Allis Police Chief Charles Padgett said in a statement Saturday.

The 63-year-old woman lived in the building in the 7400 block of W. Washington St., where she was found shortly after 1:30 p.m., police said Friday.

WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) reported that the apartment complex is for people with mental health issues.

Padgett also announced that a Chicago man, Henry Davis Jr., 27, has been charged with two bank robberies and a liquor store holdup in the city in April and May.

May 17, 2013 11:36 a.m. | West Allis officials are encouraging business owners and residents to the third set of open house public meetings on Interstate 94 options that could have a crucial affect on the city.

Officials want the on- and off-ramps at 70th/68th streets and at 60th/Hawley Road preserved as they are now partly so that businesses won't be harmed and partly because of fears that West Allis residents will be stuck in backups getting onto the freeway at rush hours.

The open houses will be held next week by the state Department of Transportation.

While most of the I-94 alternatives being considered do include restoring the existing I-94 ramps at 70th/68th and 60th/Hawley, the cheapest alternative does not include all of these ramps. City officials hope to encourage the DOT not to choose the cheapest alternative.

The first open house will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Wisconsin State Fair Park's Tommy Thompson Youth Center, gate 5, at 640 S. 84th St. The second open house will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Marquette University High School, 3401 W. Wisconsin Ave.

May 17, 2013 10:04 a.m. | A ceremonial groundbreaking will be held for the Greenfield Farmers Market at 4:30 p.m. May 23 in Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave., where the market will be held.

Actually, the groundbreaking will not be for any structure, but for the path that will be created to lead to the market. Because the path also will serve the Dan Jansen Family Fun Fest, the festival board has been part of the celebration planning.

Path construction is to begin immediately after Jansen Fest on Memorial Day weekend, May 24 to 26, at Konkel Park. Weather and construction permitting the path should be ready for the market's opening day, June 23..

The Greenfield Farmers Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 27 offering a variety of products including fresh produce,

May 16, 2013 5:20 p.m. | With the launch of a farmers market in Greenfield a little more than a month away, the Planning Committee is encouraging people to volunteer to help make the market a success.

Volunteer positions may include Farmers Market ambassadors during market hours, photographers and promoters.

A volunteer interest and feedback meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Greenfield City Hall, 7325 W. Forest Home Ave., room 204, for those who might want to volunteer at or learn more about the farmers market.

The meeting will provide an update on market logistics and promotion plan, provide volunteer opportunities and allow time for feedback and discussion.

Those interested in attending, should email farmersmarket@greenfieldwi.us.

May 09, 2013 1:42 p.m. | A 20-year-old West Allis man was shot and killed during a drug transaction, Milwaukee police said Thursday.

Samuel J. Bussanich was shot about 8 p.m. Tuesday while driving a car in the 2400 block of N. 23rd St. A 16-year-old boy from Milwaukee was arrested and the case was referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office Thursday, police spokesman Sgt. Mark Stanmeyer said.

For the latest crime news and an interactive map of Milwaukee police calls, visit JSOnline.com/crime.

May 07, 2013 10:48 p.m. | A West Allis man who worked as a golf caddy while walking, hiking and backpacking around the world died Tuesday, a little more than a month after being robbed and shot in Costa Rica, his family said.

Steven Adam Flesch, 31, traveled to 34 countries in four years and had been in Central America since January, said his sister, Nikki Lannert of Waukesha.

He was shot April 2 in San Jose two days before he was scheduled to fly home, Lannert said.

"He was the biggest adventurer," she said.

A graduate of Brookfield Central High School, Flesch earned a degree in golf course management from the San Diego Golf Academy and was a caddy at Erin Hills Golf Course in the Town of Erin for the past three or four years, she said.

The Greenfield company won $15,000 in the competition, which attracted more than 70 start-ups from 12 countries.

PaveDrain sells the mats to companies, universities and others for paving large surfaces. The mats allow storm water to seep into the ground through joints between the blocks. Then the water goes into the ground to replenish the water table rather than running off and creating problems with potential flooding.

The company was founded by Doug Buch in his basement in 2009. Buch previously did technical sales in the civil engineering field.

"Our existing surfaces, streets, driveways and roofs are impermeable, so the water has to be taken somewhere. What we're trying to solve is all this flooding," Buch said. "This can turn the world into more of a sponge like it originally was."

May 01, 2013 12:14 p.m. | West Allis police are asking the public for help identifying the man who robbed the West Allis Tri City Bank, 6760 W. National Ave, at 2:11 p.m. April 23.

He is described as black with a dark complexion, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall, 180 pounds with a medium build, and a large nose. He was wearing a dark/black coat with a "Lite" logo on left chest, a black brimmed hat with a Celtic cross and possible red color logo on front.

He was holding his cellphone in his left hand, and appears to be left handed based on video.

No weapon displayed. The man held up a note saying, "This is a robbery." There were no injuries.